CHILLICOTHE - A Unioto fourth grader has been bitten by the acting bug after landing her first movie role.

Life has been a bit of a whirlwind for Grace Townsend, 10, since August when she learned her talent agency had lined her up for her first movie audition in Cleveland.

"We said, 'Yea, for sure!'" Townsend said.

Within a few days of auditioning, she cried in excitement after getting the call she'd been selected to play the younger version of the one of the main characters, Claire, in "In Search of Fellini."

The movie is co-written by Ohio-native Nancy Cartwright, known best as the voice of Bart Simpson, and is inspired by her adventure in Italy in the 1980s. The Hollywood Reporter describes the movie as a "coming-of-age drama ... about a small-town Ohio girl who after discovering the films of Federico Fellini, sets off on a bizarre journey across Italy to find him."

Townsend's role in the movie is a brief flashback, but the experience was a fun one, she said.

"It was funny whenever I ripped off the Barbie doll head," she said of her role.

Townsend, the oldest of four, and her mother, Sarah Wood, didn't hear much about the movie until February when Townsend was invited to the red-carpet premiere at the Los Angeles Italia Film Festival. The premiere was the first time she got to meet the main actors in the film.

Distribution plans for the movie are still being finalized, Wood said.

Townsend's path to the audition began when she was just a baby. Wood said she was often stopped by strangers complimenting her about her daughter, so when she turned 1, she entered her into the Sunflower Festival pageant. They continued to do pageants, and as Townsend grew up, she mentioned wanting to model.

Wood went to work to learn the ropes of what to do and how to get a talent agency. After checking out a few, and even being signed with one, they ultimately landed with PCG Talent. In addition to the movie, the agency also helped Townsend land a modeling gig with children's clothing retailer Justice.

"She's worked really hard to get where she is," Wood said, adding it's also taken a lot of support from family, friends, and Townsend's father, Victor Townsend.

Townsend's favorite part of modeling and acting thus far has been getting her hair and makeup done and picking out clothes. Townsend hopes a bigger movie role will be in her future and thinks she'd enjoy working in comedies. While in Los Angeles for the premiere, she interviewed with another talent agency and also now is represented by L.A. Models.

"I definitely think she's got a bright future," Wood said. "I want her to stay grounded and humble, but at the same time, she deserves to be proud. I'm excited to see where she goes."